Press Releases
Gillibrand Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Effort to Fund U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is leading a bipartisan effort in the Senate to fund the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperation today by urging the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Energy and Water Development to designate that at least $2 million out of the funding for international programs in the FY2013 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill goes to this important program. Senator Gillibrand has led the fight for the past three years to preserve the continuation of … Continue Reading
March 21, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $40,000 for Rhinecliff Fire District
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $41,800 in federal funding for the Rhinecliff Fire District to purchase new air packs. This will allow them to respond to emergencies safely and more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This federal funding is so important for the Rhinecliff Fire District," said Senator Gillibrand. "Our firefighters put their lives on the … Continue Reading
March 21, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $100,000 for Victor Volunteer Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $104,500 in federal funding for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. This will allow them to respond to emergencies safely and more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This federal funding is so important for the Victor Volunteer Fire Department," said Senator Gillibrand. … Continue Reading
March 21, 2012
Gillibrand Urges Senate to Pass Bill Opening U.S. Supreme Court Proceedings to Television Cameras
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today applauding efforts in the Senate to pass legislation that would authorize U.S. Supreme Court proceedings to be televised, unless decided by a majority vote that such coverage would violate the due process rights of any party involved. Next week, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to begin hearings on the Affordable Care Act. "This is the right thing to do to bring more transparency to Washington. … Continue Reading
March 20, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Legislation to Support New York Apple Growers, Ease Regulations on Exports to Canada
Washington, DC - As part of her ongoing commitment to help New York's farmers, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today introduced legislation that would help New York apple growers streamline operations and save money. The bill, endorsed by New York Apple Association and U.S. Apple Association, would exempt bulk shipments of U.S. apples to Canada from inspection required by the Apple Export Act, offering growers immediate savings of approximately … Continue Reading
March 16, 2012
Gillibrand to USDA: Pull ‘Pink Slime’ Beef from School Meals Now
Washington, D.C. - With ground beef laced with ammonium hydroxide known as "pink slime" included in more than 100 million pounds of ground beef served to 32 million schoolchildren enrolled in the National School Meal program, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on the USDA to pull the treated beef from meals served to children immediately. Fast food chains, such as McDonald's, Burger King and Taco Bell have already eliminated the pink slime from their menus. And the USDA is giving … Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Over $47,000 for Arcade Fire Department
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $47,609 in federal funding for the Arcade Fire Department in Wyoming County to purchase a self-contained breathing apparatus air replenishment system (SCBA), and to replace the department's water supply hose. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. In October 2011, Senator Gillibrand wrote FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to urge the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2012
New York’s Congressional Delegation Comes Together to Fight for Niagara Air National Guard Base
Washington, DC - New York's entire bipartisan Congressional Delegation came together today to fight to protect Niagara Air National Guard Base from the proposed cuts by the Pentagon. The Air Force has proposed eliminating the National Guard wing in Niagara. The New York officials endorsed the Council of Governors proposal, which would shift some of the funds out of the Air Force into the Air National Guard in order to add missions into some of the bases around the nation, including Niagara, … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Gillibrand Announces More Than $30,000 for Rushville Hose Company
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $30,134 in federal funding for the Rushville Hose Company to purchase a new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. "This is an important investment for the Rushville Hose Company," Senator Gillibrand said. "Our firefighters put their lives on the line on behalf of our safety, and we need to make … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand Announce Final Senate Passage of Truck Stop Safety Measure, Call on House Leadership to Immediately Follow Suit
Today, U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced that "Jason's Law," a measure to increase security and improve conditions at truck stops across the country is included in the Transportation Reauthorization bill that has passed the full Senate. The legislation is named in honor of Schoharie County trucker Jason Rivenburg, who tragically lost his life during a robbery attempt on March 5, 2009 while resting at an abandoned gas station in South Carolina. "With today's … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Final Senate Passage of National Teen Driving Safety Plan – Calls on House to Take Same Step to Save Lives
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that important provisions of the Safe Teen and Novice Driver Uniform Protection (STAND UP) Act she authored has passed the full Senate as part of the Transportation Reauthorization bill. The STAND UP Act would set national standards for states to implement Graduated Drivers License (GDL) programs that prepare teens to be safer, more responsible drivers. VIDEO: Senator Gillibrand spoke on the Senate floor to urge her … Continue Reading
March 14, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Final Senate Passage of Measure to Improve Funding for NYS Border Infrastructure Projects – Calls on House to Follow Suit
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced that a provision she wrote to reform the Coordinated Border Infrastructure (CBI) Program and invest in rail infrastructure at border regions has passed the full Senate as part of the Transportation Reauthorization bill. Specifically, Senator Gillibrand's measure would allow states to use funding to improve freight mobility across international borders, enhancing commerce at border regions. Last year, New York State accounted … Continue Reading
March 13, 2012
With Good-Paying Jobs Going Unfilled Due to a Lack of Training Opportunities, Gillibrand Announces Agenda to Train More Workers for Jobs in Growing Industries
Washington, D.C. - With reports showing the lasting economic benefits of postsecondary education and career training, and with good-paying jobs going unfilled as a result of a lack of training opportunities, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced a new legislative agenda to help prepare New York's workforce with the skills necessary for jobs in growing industries. Senator Gillibrand's plan would strengthen job training opportunities at community colleges, support collaborative … Continue Reading
March 12, 2012
Gillibrand, Cornyn, Durbin, Ayotte Call for End to U.S. Relationship with Russian Firm Arming Assad
Washington, DC- U.S. Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Cornyn (R-TX), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta calling for an end to the U.S. Government's relationship with the Russian state-controlled arms export firm Rosoboronexport, who until just three years ago had been the subject of U.S. sanctions for assisting Iran, and has for years been arming the Assad regime as they continue to commit atrocities against the … Continue Reading
March 09, 2012
Gillibrand, Senate Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning the Killing of Journalists in Syria
Washington, D.C. - As the armed conflict in Syria continues to escalate, the brave men and women providing news reports from that region are increasingly in danger. Many have been detained or arrested while covering the unrest and some have been wounded or killed. Recognizing the essential service these reporters provide to the rest of the world at great personal risk, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), … Continue Reading
March 09, 2012
Schumer, Gillibrand and Higgins Call for Increased Eligibility for Bethlehem Steel Employee Compensation
United States Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) called on top officials at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to expand the period upon which former Bethlehem Steel workers and their survivors can apply for compensation for sicknesses incurred due to residual contamination they were unknowingly exposed to while working at the former uranium rolling facility at the Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna. "The workers at … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012
Gillibrand, Senate Democratic Women Call on Boehner to Abandon Pledge to Continue Contraception Fight
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, along with eleven Democratic women Senators, sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner calling on him to rescind his pledge to push forward with efforts to restrict women's access to contraception after the Blunt amendment was defeated in the Senate. The Senators' letter comes in the wake of Speaker Boehner's public pledge to continue efforts to limit birth control access in the House, where a similar version of the Blunt amendment … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Congressional Passage of Legislation to Prevent Dumping by Foreign Companies
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced Congressional passage of legislation that would allow the U.S. to enforce trade violations by China and other non-market economies. The bill, which passed Congress with broad, bipartisan support, preserves the U.S. government's ability to impose punitive tariffs on countries like China that unfairly subsidize their products to undermine the American market. Earlier this week, Senator Gillibrand urged her colleagues in Congress to … Continue Reading
March 08, 2012
Gillibrand Announces Senate Passage of Biodefense Bill to Strengthen U.S. Response to Disease Outbreaks, Bioterrorism
Washington, DC - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced that the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan biodefense bill last night that will help strengthen the United States' response to a future bioattack or disease outbreak. The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act Reauthorization of 2011 will equip federal agencies and hospitals with the necessary tools to prepare for and adequately respond to a wide range of public health emergencies, from natural pandemics to bioterror threats. … Continue Reading
March 07, 2012
Gillibrand Announces New NYC Program to Expand Free School Meals to Thousands of City Youth
New York, NY - U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today announced a new federal pilot program which will connect New York City youth from low-income families with free school breakfast and lunch based on their Medicaid information. By automatically enrolling eligible youth from kindergarten through 12th grade, the City will be able to cut through bureaucratic tape and provide an additional estimated 7,000 students throughout the five boroughs … Continue Reading
